BMW 3 Series F30 Review (2012-2018)
BMW 3 Series cars for sale
5.0
Expert review
Pros
Really rewarding to drive
Superb interior quality
Wide choice of punchy but efficient engines
Cons
More expensive than mainstream rivals
The Touring doesn't match a VW Passat Estate for boot space
No support for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto
The CarGurus verdict
Whether you choose the suave looks of the saloon or the added practicality of the Touring, the 3 Series is one of the best used cars you can buy. Yes, it’ll cost you slightly more than a saloon or hatchback from a more mainstream brand, but the payoffs are manifold: excellent build quality, smart looks, decent equipment, and of course, an exciting driving experience.
You can pick an estate, opt for the excellent automatic gearbox, or bag an xDrive version with all-wheel drive, too, so there really is a 3 Series out there for every need.
There are plenty of used examples on the market to choose from, too, so finding a good one shouldn’t be too tricky. All in all, if you’re after a saloon or estate car that’s sharp to drive and has a premium feel the BMW 3 Series is a very canny way to spend your cash.
What is the BMW 3 Series?
They say that imitation is the greatest form of flattery, and nowhere in the car market is that more evident than in the fiercely-contested compact executive saloon market. Many would argue that the BMW 3 Series is the daddy of them all, and ever since the first 3 Series turned up in 1975, other car makers have been rushing to replicate its success.
Obviously, the other two members of the German ’big three’ are represented with the Audi A4 and Mercedes C-Class, but the 3er’s numerous prestige rivals also include cars such as the Alfa Romeo Giulia, Jaguar XE, Lexus IS, Volvo S60, not to mention dozens of more affordable rivals from more mainstream brands.
After this generation of 3 Series bowed out, it was replaced in 2019 by the G20-generation BMW 3 Series, which is reviewed here.
How practical is it?
What makes the Beemer so successful? Well, arguably its tempting mix of lavish desirability and everyday practicality. Let’s deal with the latter first. It comes from the fact that the car has bags of space in both the front seats and the rear seats, with generous headroom and legroom all round, and the fact that the boot is big enough for pretty much any family’s clutter. And that’s if you go for the saloon version. Go for the Gran Turismo hatchback version or the Touring estate version, and you get even more, along with even better access (if you’re wondering what happened to the coupe and convertible versions of the 3 Series for this generation, these were spun off to form their own model line, the BMW 4 Series).
And the desirability? Well, that bit starts with the famous circular blue and white badge, and continues with the car’s sporty styling, complete with traditional BMW cues including the kidney grille and the Hofmeister kink.
What's it like to drive?
Perhaps the most desirable bit of the F30, as with previous generations of the 3 series, is the fact that it’s known as the discerning driver’s choice in the class. That’s mainly down to the rear-wheel drive layout (although four-wheel drive versions were also available) and the suspension. The suspension differed according to which of the various trim levels you went for. The racy M Sport models are the most plentiful on the used market due to their initial popularity (the 320d M Sport is the most common variant of the lot), but these came with a stiffer sports suspension and bigger alloy wheels that actually made the 3 Series a little worse. The more forgiving setup fitted to the more humble versions, the SE 4dr for example, delivers a much comfier ride and is no less involving in the corners. It’s still worth noting, though, that the 3 Series is at its very best with the optional adaptive suspension fitted, but even without it, the 3 Series is still the class benchmark for dynamic excellence.
A range of fantastic powertrain options were available, with both petrol and diesel engines available in four-cylinder and six-cylinder formats, all of which provided a tempting mix of performance and economy. A couple of hybrid versions were offered, too. You can’t really go wrong with any of them, but by far the most common examples on the used market will be the 320d, with its fabulous four-cylinder diesel engine. Six-speed manual gearboxes were offered, as were eight-speed automatics.
Technology, equipment & infotainment
The exemplary interior quality plays its part, too, because it helps make the car feel sophisticated to sit in. The generous level of equipment and technology onboard also contributes, not least the brilliant infotainment system that uses the fabulous iDrive controller instead of the touchscreen approach favoured by other manufacturers (although it’s worth noting that Apple Carplay/Android Auto aren’t supported by the F30’s system).
The model range ran from the basic ES level right up to the lavish Luxury and racy M Sport trims, but our favourite was the fairly humble SE trim. Choosing it keeps purchase prices down but its still well equipped, with dual-zone climate control, automatic headlights and wipers, cruise control, rear parking sensors and audio controls on the steering wheel.
BMW 3 Series running costs
Officially, the most efficient version of the BMW F30 3 Series is the plug-in 330e, though in the real world, its fuel economy will be vastly inferior to its lab-tested 149mpg figure. Expect around 45mpg unless you charge it every 20-30 miles or so.
In reality, you’ll use the least fuel driving either a 316d or a 320d EfficientDynamics, the name given to a super-frugal variant of the 320d. Both of these models will achieve around 55-60mpg on the road, though neither the 318d nor the standard 320d will be fair behind.
Expect to see 40-45mpg on average from a petrol-powered 320i, meanwhile. And while the mpg of more potent models will drop off by comparison, no 3 Series is particularly thirsty when compared like-for-like with its rivals, even if you're considering the awe-inspiring BMW M3.
The 3 Series is rear-wheel drive as standard, but you can also buy all-wheel drive models, badged as xDrive. Remember, though, that these won't get such good fuel economy.
Remember that if you buy a 3 Series registered on or after 1 April 2017, you might pay slightly more or slightly less tax, depending on which model you’re going for. Cars registered before that date were taxed based on their CO2 emissions, which favours the less powerful petrol and diesel variants. After that date, you’ll pay a flat rate of £140/year, or £450/year until the car is five years old if it cost more than £40,000 when new.
The 3 Series operates on a servicing system called condition-based servicing, which means the car monitors the condition of its own oil, filter and other service parts and tells you when you need to service it. That means there are no fixed service schedules, though you can expect a car used for shorter trips to need servicing roughly every 10,000 miles, while cars driven mostly on motorways will go longer between services.
BMW service pricing is generally a little cheaper than that of rival premium brands, although unlike some manufacturers, it doesn’t offer a reduced-price service scheme for cars aged more than 3 years old.
All BMW 3 Series engines come with a timing chain which, in theory, shouldn’t need replacing throughout the life of the car. Nevertheless, some 3 Series engines have shown premature timing chain wear; read on for more on this.
BMW 3 Series reliability
Officially, the most efficient version of the BMW F30 3 Series is the plug-in 330e, though in the real world, its fuel economy will be vastly inferior to its lab-tested 149mpg figure. Expect around 45mpg unless you charge it every 20-30 miles or so.
In reality, you’ll use the least fuel driving either a 316d or a 320d EfficientDynamics, the name given to a super-frugal variant of the 320d. Both of these models will achieve around 55-60mpg on the road, though neither the 318d nor the standard 320d will be fair behind.
Expect to see 40-45mpg on average from a petrol-powered 320i, meanwhile. And while the mpg of more potent models will drop off by comparison, no 3 Series is particularly thirsty when compared like-for-like with its rivals, even if you're considering the awe-inspiring BMW M3.
The 3 Series is rear-wheel drive as standard, but you can also buy all-wheel drive models, badged as xDrive. Remember, though, that these won't get such good fuel economy.
Remember that if you buy a 3 Series registered on or after 1 April 2017, you might pay slightly more or slightly less tax, depending on which model you’re going for. Cars registered before that date were taxed based on their CO2 emissions, which favours the less powerful petrol and diesel variants. After that date, you’ll pay a flat rate of £140/year, or £450/year until the car is five years old if it cost more than £40,000 when new.
The 3 Series operates on a servicing system called condition-based servicing, which means the car monitors the condition of its own oil, filter and other service parts and tells you when you need to service it. That means there are no fixed service schedules, though you can expect a car used for shorter trips to need servicing roughly every 10,000 miles, while cars driven mostly on motorways will go longer between services.
BMW service pricing is generally a little cheaper than that of rival premium brands, although unlike some manufacturers, it doesn’t offer a reduced-price service scheme for cars aged more than 3 years old.
All BMW 3 Series engines come with a timing chain which, in theory, shouldn’t need replacing throughout the life of the car. Nevertheless, some 3 Series engines have shown premature timing chain wear; read on for more on this.
- A facelift in 2015 brought a range of new turbo engines, all of which improved efficiency. Satellite navigation, previously an optional extra, was also introduced as standard on all 3 Series models around this time.
- Two very different hybrid models of the 3 Series F30 were made available; the earlier ActiveHybrid 3 was fast but heavy and consequently not as economical as you’d hope. However, the later BMW 330e iPerformance, which is a plug-in hybrid, is worth seeking out if you have access to an electric socket where you park your car. It’s expensive to buy, but if you can run it on electric power alone for some of the time, it’ll prove both cheap to run and good to drive.
- The estate (or 3 Series Touring, as BMW calls it) offers useful extra practicality over and above the 3 Series saloon version, but like many of its premium rivals its boot is quite small for an estate car. If you regularly need to carry lots of stuff or bulkier items in the boot, a Volkswagen Passat or Skoda Superb might be a better bet.
- If you're on a budget: The 318d SE offers so much of what's good about the 3 Series – great handling, solid build quality and decent refinement – yet has the running costs of a more conventional family hatchback. Admittedly, the straight line performance won't leave breathless, but for buyers on a budget, the 318d is a great entry-level 3 Series.
- If you don’t want a diesel: A BMW 320i SE will give quiet and reasonably frugal performance for those who'd rather not run diesel engines. Just bear in mind that the range from a full tank of fuel won't be as great, and you don't get as much mid-range pulling power as in a 320d.
- If you fancy something sportier: For ultimate thrills you'll want an M3 or M340i xDrive. These versions as fast and frenetic as you'd want any sports saloon to be. These versions are also very expensive, though, both to buy and to run, and if they're looking like they'll be too expensive, then a 330i Sport isn't a bad substitute. Performance is strong and smooth, and the engine makes a good noise as well.
- If you need an estate: The BMW 320d SE Touring is arguably the greatest all-rounder in the 3 Series lineup. It's roomy enough, quick enough and frugal enough to deal with almost all that you could ask of it. Regardless of body style, the 320d engine - a powerful-yet-economical four-cylinder diesel - was by far the most popular engine in the 3 Series.
- If you want a hybrid: The 330e plug-in hybrid combines a petrol engine with electric power, and as well as being potentially cheap to run can also look like surprisingly good value to buy. The all-electric range will most likely be less than 20 miles, but if that covers your daily commute then a 330e could make a good deal of sense.
